Pressure Washing Driveways

The cleanliness of the exterior of our homes, which includes the garden, deck, patio, and even driveway, can reflect our perspective towards cleanliness. When it comes to cleaning the garden, deck, and patio, often you need professional help as maintaining them can be very difficult. The driveway on the other hand is an exemption as it doesn’t take a lot of knowledge to clean the driveway, just the right cleaning tools and equipment. To clean the driveway effectively and efficiently, you will need a pressure washer. The pressure washer is the best cleaning equipment ever created and it will help you accomplish your task of cleaning your driveway much better and in less time.

In the past, cleaning the driveway meant you had to sweep and hose it with water. There are even times you need to scrub oil spill with brush and soap just to remove the stain. This takes a lot of time and energy which is why many homeowners take a pass when it comes to cleaning their driveway whenever possible. However, with a pressure washer, what used to be hours of cleaning is reduced into minutes as it enables you to thoroughly clean your driveway with every pass of the highly pressurized stream of water.

If you do not have a pressure washer, you have the option of renting or buying one, although it is often recommended to buy one instead of renting as renting one can cost somewhere between 30 to 60 dollars, while buying an entry level unit will only cost you around 120 dollars. Once you have your own pressure washer, you will be able to clean whenever you want to and not wait until you have a lot of cleaning task just to get the most out of a rented pressure washer.

When buying your first pressure washer, you will have the option of choosing between a gas pressure washer and an electric pressure washer. Both types have their own advantages as well as significant disadvantages. Gas-powered pressure washers are very powerful and are used for an assortment of commercial and industrial cleaning applications. Their main advantage is that they can be used on remote locations without the need to be connected to the grid for power. Another advantage is that size-for-size a gas pressure washer can generate more power than an electric one. Despite its advantages, a gas pressure washer also has significant disadvantages. One of the most notable disadvantages of a gas pressure washer is that they cannot be used on enclosed spaces as the fume coming out of the combustion engine can be lethal if exposed to for prolonged periods. Other disadvantages would include high noise levels and more maintenance requirement. Electric pressure washers on the other hand are gaining popularity with homeowners as they are less expensive, have low noise levels, require little maintenance, and they can be used on enclosed spaces. Their most significant disadvantage on the other hand is that they constantly need to be connected to a power supply in order to run. This means you cannot use an electric pressure washer unit on remote locations without any electricity.

When it comes to pressure washing driveways, usually, a pressure washer that is able to generate more power is recommended. However, since your pressure washer unit is not just meant for cleaning the driveway, having too much power may damage the other surfaces you will be using the unit with. Therefore, a unit with a power rating of 1,500 to 3,000 PSI is highly sufficient. The only problem with the lower rating is that it will take a bit more time to clean than with the more powerful ones.

When cleaning your driveway, it is recommended to start from the garage going down to the street. This way, you have direction in which way you want to go and sweep off the dirty water towards the end of your goal. Before pressure washing the driveway though, you first need to remove any twigs, small rocks or debris that the highly pressurized stream may blow off and possibly ricochet towards you. Once you are done with that, you can start pressure washing your driveway. Make sure to spray in a sweeping pattern and concentrate the stream only if there are stains that need to be removed. If the stain seems difficult to remove and you know that your pressure washer unit comes with a chemical and detergent dispenser, then you can use that to hasten the removal of the stain. If a stain is really bad, you may need to pre-treat it with chemicals before pressure washing it. When pressure washing the other paved surfaces of the driveway that are not stained, just make sure you cover the whole area and pressure wash it more than once to get a real clean.

High Quality Pressure Washers

If you want your pressure washer unit to perform effectively even after years since its purchase, then you need to buy a unit with quality components. Most mid-end to high-end pressure washers from well-known manufacturers make their units using high-grade components that are capable of withstanding tough cleaning tasks.

When buying your pressure washer, the first thing you would want to consider would be their housing. Regardless of type, they need to be housed in a robust casing that can withstand chipping and most chemicals. Aluminum housings and low grade plastic housings can wear down quickly which further decreases the lifespan of the unit. If you are going for a hot water or a steam unit, then there is no alternative to stainless steel housing. This will make the unit a heavy duty and corrosion free.

If mobility is your top consideration, then you should aim for models with wheels or trolleys so you can move them around quickly. Just make sure that the wheels they have are strong and reliable so they can withstand wear and tear when subjected to demanding conditions. Trailer mounts or truck mounts are recommended for heavier units to enhance their mobility.

Comments

The Electrical pressure washers are known to be the best pressure washer for home use. They work like any other appliance at home. No need to worry about fumes, which can be hazardous to children. My friend immediately switches to electric power washer when she found out that the fumes can causes some respiratory issues when inhaled by children. Lastly, it is safer because it does not operate with flammable materials.

I agree that an electric power washer is best for most people…assuming they don’t have a very large or dirty driveway. We have a very large driveway and lots of bricks however so we bought a gas powered one and are very happy that we did. Just as the article suggests, its advantages are pressure/power and sturdiness/longevity. It is 3300 PSI and it takes several hours to clean our whole driveway. It would take days with an electric one….but the lower pressure of an electric one is better suited to clean other things, like a car. Electric ones are also less expensive. I don’t see one being more dangerous than the other really. Electricity and water don’t mix. Perhaps an electric one is a tad easier to use (gas powered ones are just like a lawmower). The fumes that are emitted from a gas engine aren’t good for you but they’re just like a car, lawnmower or chain saw. A kid shouldn’t be playing near any of those. If you want a big driveway or want an industrial solution that will last longer (but cost more and be louder), get a good gas engine. For less money and everyone else, get an electric one.